Stringed instrument with pre-programmed instantaneous selection of multiple chromatic changes



Feb. 10, 1970 D. A. CRITES I 3,494,238

STRINGED INSTRUMENT WITH PRE-PROGRAMMED INSTANTANEOUS Filed Feb. 8, 1968 SELECTION OF MULTIPLE CHROMATIC CHANGES I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 D. A. CRITES STRINGED INSTRUMENT WITH FEE-.PROGRAMMED INSTANTANEOUS SELECTION OF MULTIPLE CHROMATIC CHANGES URNN H n h I} a} E a} I E mmx 5 5 1% g Q $9 \RNN MQ m6- {NW m8 n6 :8 \\\N minkt k ,8 Q h a- 1% Feb. 10, 1970 Filed Feb. 8, 19 68 m'ramw-y D. A. CRITES Feb. 10, 1970 3,494,238 STRINGED INSTRUMENT WITH PRE-PROGRAMMED INSTANTANE SELECTION. OF MULTIPLE CHROMATIC CHANGES Filed Feb. 8, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 From 2 far New Z14, 24?? United States Patent O 3,494,238 STRINGED INSTRUMENT WITH PRE-PRO- GRAMMED INSTANTANEOUS SELECTION OF MULTIPLE CHROMATIC CHANGES Darell A. Crites, 130 Willard Way, Port Hueneme, Calif. 93401 Filed Feb. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 704,132 Int. Cl. Gd 1/04 US. Cl. 84--266 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In certain stringed musical instruments, particularly the harp, it has heretofore been necessary to utilize foot pedals for making changes in the chromatic degree of the pitch of selected strings of the instrument. The player of the instrument has been limited in the number of strings whose pitch could be controlled at any given time, because by using this two feet it has hardly been possible to change the pitch of more than two strings at a time. Of course in the conventional harp the pitch changing mechanism is connected to all of the various octaves of the instrument, so that changing the pitch of a particular note, such as C to C sharp, will change the pitch of that note in all octaves of the instrument.

More specifically, the harp is equipped with seven strings in each octave, which correspond to the white notes on a piano. The sharps and flats, equivalent to the black notes on the piano, are achieved by raising or lowering the pitch of an adjacent string by a half tone. Sometimes the pitch of a particular string must be raised and other times it must be lowered, hence each string has three possible chromatic pitch levels.

Because of these limitations harp music has had to be specially written. But the unique musical quality of the harp, which distinguishes it from all other instruments, makes its desirable to be able to play standard compositions on the harp.

Of course it has been recognized in the past that it might be possible to equip the harp with strings of intermediate pitch, corresponding to the black notes of the piano. Unfortunately, the limitations of space and physical bulk of the instrument have not permitted this to be done. The instrument has therefore continued to be used with the inherent limitations of foot operated pedals that are capable of changing the chromatic degree of pitch of only two strings at a time.

Accordingly, the major object and purpose of the present invention is to provide a stringed musical instrument in which chromatic changes in pitch for a group of strings may be pre-programmed, and the pre-programmed changes may then be put into effect instantaneously when desired. At the present time the invention is applied to a harp, for the reasons mentioned above.

A further and additional object of the invention is to 3,494,238 Patented Feb. 10, 1970 provide a stringed musical instrument in which chromatic pitch changes that affect a number of strings of the instrument may be pre-programmed, in a programming unit which has the capacity for storing information relating to a number of such programs. It is then possible, during a musical performance, to instantaneously select a particular one of the pitch change programs that has been prepared in advance.

Another separate, distinct, and unrelated object of the invention is to provide a power actuated mechanism for changing the chromatic degree of pitch of a string of a musical instrument, thereby relieving the operator of an excessive physical workload in accomplishing a desired pitch change.

DRAWING SUMMARY FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stringed musical instrument, with associated control console, which incorporates the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic wiring diagram for the control cons-ole;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing portions of the internal construction of the instrument of FIGURE 1, and also indicating electrical wiring connections in schematic form;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a detail of the pedal mechanism; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a pitch changing control shaft.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The stringed musical instrument illustrated in the present drawings is designated as H, and includes a base B which rests upon the floor and from which a post D rises vertically while :a sound chamber A rises at about a 45 angle from the base B. The upper extermities of post D and sound chamber A are interconnected by a neck N, and these parts together with multiple strings S form essentially a conventional harp of a type that has been known and used for about years. However, as will be seen from the ensuing description, the present instrument incorporates a novel power-actuated mechanism for changing the pitch of selected indivdual strings, so that the workload upon the foot pedal is reduced to a minimum.

The principal concept of the present invention is the instrument system of a control console C, which is preferably a separate unit positioned adjacent the seat 0 upon which the player of the instrument sits during a musical performance. Foot pedals P are located adjacent the seat 0, and in the present instrument the foot pedals are not physically or mechanically connected to the base B of the instrument but rather are simply coupled thereto through a control cable W containing a plurality'of electrical conductors. v

The complete instrument system as shownin FIGURE 1 includes seven of the pedals P, one for each note of the scale. Each pedal has a normal position, a forward depressed position, and a rearward depressed position. In the normal position of the pedal the associated string, whose pitch is being controlled by that pedal, has its normal pitch corresponding to one-half tone higher than the full vibrating length. In the forward depressed position of the pedal the pitch of the string is lowered by one-half tone, while in the rearward depressed position the pitch of the string is raised by one-half tone. I

FIGURE 3 illustrates a typical pedal mechanism, in-

eluding an electrical switch 10 which is normally closed in the normal position of the pedal, and an electrical switch 11 which is normally open in the normal position of the pedal. When the pedal is actuated to its forward depressed position the switch 10 opens, and switch 11 remains open, with the result that the pitch of the string is lowered by half a tone. When the pedal is actuated to its rearward depressed position the switch 11 closes, causing the string to assume a pitch one-half tone higher than its normal pitch, and two half-tones higher than the pitch corresponding to its full vibrating length.

Referring to FIGURE 3 where a single string S is illustrated, it will be appreciated that the lower end of the string S is fastened to the sound chamber A by conventional means, and the upper ends of the string S is fastened in conventional manner to a tuning shaft 55 and from there passes over a pin 56 which establishes the full vibrating length of the string. Spaced a short distance below the pin 56 is a cricular plate or wheel 16 having an associated pair of pins 21 and 22, whose function when actuated is to shorten the effective vibrating length of the string so as to raise the pitch by a half tone. Positioned below the plate 16 is a similar plate 17 and pins 23 and 24, whose function when actuated is to raise the pitch of the string two half tones above the pitch that corresponds to the full vibrating length of the string. In the normal position of pedal P the plate or wheel 16 is rotated so that the pin 21 1s in an upper position and the pin 22 is in a lower position, with both of these pins tightly engaging the string S. The string then has its normal pitch. When pedal P is actuated to its forward depressed position the plate 16 rotates in such a direction as to release the pins 21 and 22 so that the string S is free to vibrate throughout its full length, extending all the way from sound chamber A to pin 56. When pedal P is actuated to its rearward depressed position the plate 17 is rotated so that pin 23 is uppermost and pin 24 is lowermost, with both being in firm engagment with the string S, so that the pitch of the string is two half-tones higher than the pitch corresponding to its full vibrating length.

Thus the complete actuating means by which one foot pedal controls the chromatic degree of pitch of its associated string includes the switches 10 and 11; interconnecting wires that are housed inside the cable W which extends from the players seat to the base B of the instrument; solenoid 12 for driving a shaft 14 to rotate the plate or wheel 16; and solenoid 13 for driving the shaft 15 to rotate the plate or wheel 17. As shown in FIGURE 3 the electrical wires which energize solenoids 12 and 13 are also connected to similar solenoids for controlling the other strings that are one or more octaves above or below the pitch of the particular string S shown in the illustration.

The particular illustrated mechanism for controlling the pitch of string S is significant, independently of the inventive concept involving the control console C, \and constitutes the subject matter of a separate patentable invention. Thus the shaft 14 is rotatably supported by the frame of the instrument, specifically an interior portion of the neck N, extends from the frame in a direction generally perpendicular to the string S, and hence parallel to the tuning shaft 55. The solenoid or acuator 12 has a plunger 26 which extends generally perpendicular to the shaft 14, and the plunger 26 may occupy either an energized position or a non-energized position. Shaft 14 is equipped with a crank arm 30, and a connecting rod 28 has its ends pivotally coupled to plunger 26 and to crank arm 30. Thus the selective energization or de-energization of the actuating solenoid 12 is effective to rotate shaft 14, and hence the plate 16, through a portion of a revolution, somewhat less than 90". In lieu of crank arm 30 a rackand-pinion may be preferrred.

FIGURE of the drawings illustrates another specific feature of the actuating means, with reference to shaft 14. The wall 19 of the neck or housing has a relativel large opening through which the shaft 14 passes, adjacent its outer end upon which the plate 16 is fastened. A rather small metal plate 35 covers this opening and has fastening screws 36, 37 which may be loosened to permit adjustment of the position of plate 35 in a horizontal direction. The plate 35 has a central opening whose horizontal Width precisely accommodates shaft 14 but whose vertical width is significantly greater. Adjusting screws 38 and 39 carried in the upper and lower parts of plate 35 are effective for establishing a precisely vertically located opening for the shaft 14. By use of this mechanism it is possible to make precise adjustments in both the horizontal position and the vertical position of shaft 14 relative to the instrument frame, and hence relative to the string S whose chromatic pitch is being controlled.

While the actuating means has been particularly described for only a single string S, it is understood that a single pedal P in conjunction with a switch 10 and a switch 11 is utilized for controlling a number of strings S, one in each octave of the instrument. Each individual string in turn has a pair of the shafts 14, 15 controlled by respective actuators 12, 13. While the mechanism for actuator 13 and shaft 15 has not been described in detail it will be understood that it is substantially identical to the mechanism for actuator 12 and shaft 14. The significant difference, of course, is that pin 22 on plate 16 shortens the string length by one half-tone, while pin 24 on plate 17 shortens the string length by two halftones.

In accordance with the control concept of the present invention the instrument incorporates a position retaining means associated with each pedal P, so that the pedal will retain its existing position until positively moved to a different position. Such a position retaining mechanism 40 is illustrated in FIGURE 4. The pedal P is supported upon a horizontal shaft 45 which extends transverse to the length of the pedal. 0n the lower side of shaft 45 are formed three depressions 41, one being at the exact center of the undersurface and another being forwardly located while the third is rearwardly located. A small housing 42 is attached to the bottom of the pedal, with a ball 43 being retained in the upper end of housing 42. A spring 44 contained in housing 42 urges ball 43 upward. Ball 43 therefore assumes a locked position in one of the depressions 41, and when the pedal is rotated either forward or backward the ball will move to a different one of the depressions.

As indicated previously the primary concept of the present invention is the provision of means for preprogr-ammed selection of chromatic degrees of pitch of the strings of the instrument. Toward that end there is provided the control console C which is electrically connected by means of a cable W (not specifically shown, although indicated in FIGURE 3) to the pedals P. Each pedal P is equipped with a pair of solenoid devices 50, 51, which are externally controlled from the console C for the purpose of setting the pedal to a desired position. When the solenoids are energized in a particular manner the pedal P is set to a selected position, and although the energization of the solenoids is then discontinued the pedal will remain in that position by virtue of the mechanism 40, previously described. When both of the solenoids 50, 51 are energized the pedal P assumes its normal or horizontal position. When only the solenoid 51 is energized the pedal assumes its forwardly depressed position. If only solenoid 50 is energized the pedal assumes its rearward depressed position.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 2 of the drawing illustrating the schematic circuit of the control console C by means of which the pedal positions may be set as desired. The control console C includes separate banks of manual selection switches identified as 100, 110, 120, 130, and 140, respectively. A separate control switch is associated with each bank of selection switches. Thus a control switch 108 is associated with the selection switch bank 100; a control switch 118 with selection switch bank 110; and so on.

When bank 100 of selection switches is to be utilized the procedure is as follows. Switch 101 is set to a desired position for a first one of the pedals, representing a particular note in the musical scale. It switch 101 is set to the left as shown, then only solenoid 50 will be energized. If the switch is set in a central position then a complete circuit is made through both of the solenoids 50, 51. But if the switch is set in a right hand position then only solenoid 51 will be in the circuit and solenoid 50 will be excluded. The drawing, FIGURE 2, shows the internal operating mechanism of switch 101, and all of the other switches 102 107 and 111 117, etc., are constructed in the same manner. Thus each of the switches 101 to 107, inclusive, in the switch bank 100, is set to a particular position that is desired for a corresponding one of the seven pedals. When it is desired to achieve these pedal positions the operator (or player of the instrument) momentarily closes the control switch 108. Switch 108 is normally open, being held open by a spring or the like. The closing of switch 108 causes energy to flow from battery C to all of the selection switches 101 107 connected in parallel. The output circuits 71 77 are therefore energized accordingly, and the set of seven pedals are correspondingly positioned by the energization of their associated solenoid pairs 50, 51.

It will be noted, however, that the control console actually has five different banks of selection switches. Before an actual musical rendition is commenced the player may wish to set all five of these selection means to different settings. Then during the musical rendition he may momentarily close whichever one of the switches 108, 118, 128, 138, 148 will provide the desired pedal combination. As soon as his hand is removed from the control switch the energization of the solenoids 50, 51 will be discontinued. The various pedals are then held in position only by the position retaining means 40. The operator then resumes foot control of the pedal, with all seven pedals starting from the desired initial positions that he has achieved through the use of the control console.

While the presently illustrated means for controlling the strings utilizes electrical circuits and electrical solenoids, it may actually be preferred to substitute hydraulic or other types of devices for some or all of such apparatus.

The invention has been described in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent laws by providing a full public disclosure of at least one of its forms. However, such detailed description is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the invention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. In a stringed musical instrument, the combination comprising:

a string having a normal vibrating length;

a foot pedal having a normal position and at least one alternate position; actuating means coupling said foot pedal to said string so that one position of said pedal establishes said normal string length and each other position of said pedal establishes a different length of said string corresponding to a different chromatic degree of pitch;

position retaining means associated with said pedal so that said pedal retains its existing position until positively moved to a different position; and

electromechanical means for positioning said pedal independently of its control by the foot of the operator, so that at any given time the position of said pedal and hence the chromatic degree of the pitch of said string is determined either by the foot of the operator or by said electromechanical means, whichever has exerted its control the last.

2. A stringed instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foot pedal has three different positions.

3. A stringed instrument as claimed in claim 2 wherein said position retaining means includes a three-position spring-closed latch.

4. A stringed instrument as claimed in claim 1 which includes a plurality of strings each controlled by its respectively associated foot pedal.

5. A stringed instrument as claimed in claim 4 which further includes a selection panel for selecting the chromatic degree of pitch of all of said strings, and control means for concurrently actuating all of said electromechanical means to thereby position all of said pedals simultaneously.

6. In a stringed musical instrument, the combination comprising:

a plurality of strings each having a normal vibrating length;

a plurality of foot pedals each foot operable among a plurality of discrete predetermined positions for controlling the vibrating length and hence the chromatic degree of pitch of a respective one of said strings, each said foot pedal having associated actuating means which drivingly couples it to the respective string;

position retaining means associated with each of said pedals so that said pedal retains its existing position until positively moved to a different position;

a control console including manually operated selection means for selecting a set of desired initial positions of said foot pedals;

a plurality of position setting means controlled by said selection means for mechanically setting the posi tions of respective ones of said foot pedals;

and control means for energizing all of said position setting means concurrently;

whereby the position of each pedal and hence the chromatic degree of pitch of the associated string is determined either by said selection means or by the foot of the operator, whichever has last exerted its control. I

7. A stringed musical instrument as claimed in claim 6 wherein said control console includes a plurality of said manually operated selection means, and which also includes a plurality of said control means each of which is adapted for energizing said position setting means under control of a different one of said selection means.

8. A stringed musical instrument comprising:

a plurality of strings arranged to produce the notes of a scale through a range of at least two octaves;

a control console including a set of control devices which respectively correspond to the scalar notes within an octave, each of said control devices being manually settable to a selected one of different positions representing different chromatic pitch level of the corresponding note of the octave;

a plurality of control means for controlling the chromatic pitch of said plurality of strings, each of said control means being responsive to a corresponding one of said control devices for controlling the pitch of the corresponding note strings in all the octaves of the instrument concurrently; and

manually controlled actuating means for actuating all of said control means concurrently in response to the settings of their respectively associated control devices.

9. A stringed instrument as claimed in claim 8 wherein saidcontrol console includes at least two separate sets of control devices, each set of control devices being independently sufficient for controlling said control means, said actuating means being operable for actuating said control means in accordance with the setting stored in a selected one of said sets of control devices.

10. An instrument as claimed in claim 8 which further 3,494,238 7 8 includes means for operating said control means independ- 2,812,681 10/ 1957 Carron 84-266 ently of said control console.

11. An instrument as claimed in claim 10 wherein each RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner of said control means includes a foot pedal having posi- GONZALES Assistant Examiner tion retaining means associated therewith so that said 5 foot pedal retains its existing position until it is positively CL moved to a different position. i

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 485,354 10/1892 Rath 84-26 6 

